Leaft Foods and distributor Lacto Japan have entered into a new strategic partnership to bring a next-generation protein to Japan's innovation-driven food manufacturers.
The collaboration between the two companies will accelerate the commercialisation of Leaft's innovative Rubisco Protein Isolate within Japan's food manufacturing sector.
Rubisco, a protein extracted directly from green leaves, combines nutritional and functional properties that outperform animal incumbents such as whey protein.
Leaf Rubisco also delivers a superior amino acid profile compared to whey protein, setting a new gold standard for protein nutrition.
The protein is capable of replacing eggs, emulsifiers and gelling agents whilst enabling food manufacturers to substitute artificial ingredients with a clean-label protein.
This impressive food functionality of Leaf Rubisco is delivered through a commercialised production system that is backed by forward contracts and satisfies both quality and sustainability imperatives.
Lacto Japan's extensive experience connecting ingredient companies from New Zealand and Australia with major players in the Japanese food industry, and a proven track record with protein ingredients, made them the perfect partner for Leaft's debut in Japan.
The partnership also aligns with Leaft's global commercial strategy, which focuses on innovation-driven markets where demand for next-generation proteins is rapidly accelerating.
"It has been tremendously exciting to work with Lacto, a capable and innovative partner, as we've sought to enter the sophisticated Japanese market," said John Penno, founder of Leaft Foods.
"Lacto's role as our trusted local collaborator has been invaluable in providing essential market and supply chain intelligence and relationship management that can enable successful market penetration."
"It is not every day that you discover such an exciting new protein," said Takeshi Shimizu, General Manager Oceania at Lacto Japan.
"What impressed us most was not only the protein system itself, but the fact that we have been able to work with it in a range of promising applications from the start."
"The quality, texture and flavour of the foods produced meet the exceptionally high standards that Japanese consumers expect."
Already, the companies are working with several of Japan's most prominent food manufacturers across plant-based foods, bakery products and sports nutrition categories, demonstrating early market validation for the innovative protein.
Their goal is to build a business worth tens of millions of dollars (USD) during the next 5 years.